Dial-positioning mechanism for rib-knitting machines.



H. SWINGLE HURST.

DIAL POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR RIB KNITTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31, 1912.

1,056,188. Patentd' Mame, 1913.

W/knesses UNIT STAWENT OFFIC HABBY SWINGLEHURST, F COLLlNGSWOOE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 SCOTT & WILLIAMS, INC, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW J ERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

Application filed Dctober 31; 1912. Serial No. 7 28.918.

-- lowing is a specification.

- is the usual cam cylinder 4.

My invention relates to circular rib knitting machines of the cylinder and dial type and consists of new and improved means for maintaining the lateral position of the needle dial with respect to the needle cylinder.

In the accompanying drawings, Figur 1 is a section of a rib knitting machine equipped with my device; Fig. 2 is an under plan of the needle dial shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III showing the end of the roller-carrying lever.

In well'known machines of this type the longitudinally grooved needle cylinder or carrier, 1, which, without departing from my invention, may be either fixedly attached to the bed-plate A, or be free to rotate thereon,-is centrally mounted with respect to the internal shaft or stem 2, which serves to support the needle dial In case the machine is of the type illustrated in the drawings in-which the needle cylinder is stationary, it is necessary to provide means for holding the needle dial stationary with rcspect to said cylinder and the rotating stem 2. In case the needle cylinder rotates it is also necessary to rotate the needle dial. The particular devices about to be described may be employed without change in either situation, although I have chosen to illustrate them in connection with a fixed-cylinder machine.

Mounted to rotate upon the bed plate A inder by the usual means (not shown) is employed to drive the dial cam cap 5,which rotates with the stem or shaft 2, being held against gravity by its bearing upon the upper surface of the needle dial Ordinarily the central stem rotates with the cylinder cam carrier, by whatever well-known means may be employed, and it follows that the cam cap 5 may be fixed upon the stem except in a vertical sense and that the needle dial 3 must be free to rotate with respect to said stem. At the bottom of the stem a This cam cylgrooved collar 6 and oil cup 7 are suitably and fixedly mounted.

The usual prior art arrangement for maintaining the dial in a fixed relation to the cylinder comprises inter-meshing polished lugs, or dogs, one upon each of said members, between which dogs the fabric passes as it is withdrawn by the take-up mechanism beneath the machine.

The considerable strain resulting from the reaction of the dial needles with their cams is necessarily transmitted through the fabric between the pairs of dogs, and I am aware of certain attempts in the prior art to minimize the friction created upon the fabric, which has a tendency to leave a mark caused by distorted stitches at the region acted upon by the dogs. One device of. this character comprises the provision of anti-friction wheels to replace the dogs carried respectively by the cylinder and dial. While this device is effective to decrease the strain upon the fabric and to reduce the marking 1 thereof to a minimum, I have found that the necessarily small diameter of the wheels employed contributes to a grave defect in the operation of the machine, especially when starting it up with the needles bare. Under these circumstances, or when there is a broken needle, holes in the fabric are liable to occur, and, as heretofore made, the anti friction wheel or roller being unprotected with respect to the fabric, was liable to,

penetrate a large-hole, allowing portions of the fabric to jam between the wheel and its bearing, to thereby cause locking of the wheel on its shaft, and sometimes to cause the deflection of the dial, even to an extent resulting in the breakage of all of the needles in engagement with each other. I obviate these ditliculties by mounting the anti friction roll 10 in a cell or pocket on a lever 11 occupying a substantially radial position on the under side of the needle dial 3, and in engagement with the usual fixed but removable polished lug 12 on the inner sur-' face of the needle cylinder. The roller 10, which may be formed as a cylindrical casing providing a channel for anti-friction balls 13, is mounted on a screw or stud 14 taking into a depending lug 15 at the outer end of said lever.

As shown in Fig. 3 the roller 10 is housed. in a concentric cell or hollow 16 in the end of the lever, the wall of which cell is out aw y vertically on one side of and beneath roller. The outer end cat the lever ll 1n the eighhorhcod of the flange l7 vvhlch :torras the remaining Wall of the concentric hellorv 16 presents rounded and smoothed surfaces. The outer end of the flange 17 is substantially. tlush with the face of the Wheel. 10. lit will be apparent that the flange 1'? acts as a guide for defective fabric, to prevent the entrance of any part of the fabric, Whether the raw edge of a large hole, or a floating thread or mass ot threads between the Wheel and its bearing stud or screw let, While exposing a part or the Wheel tangent to a vertical plane for contact with the fabric moving on the face of the lug 12. This structure thus enables the safe passage oi such detective fabric Without preventing the useful function of the Wheel.

The lever 11 is adjustable against the tension out spring 21, about its central pivot 18, by means of the thumb screw 19, threaded into a stud 520 on the under side of the dial 3 to slightly vary the adjustment of the dial needles With respect to the cylinder needles, for instance to compensate for the altered position of the dial due to a change in the thickness of the fabric between the dogs 10 and 12,

will noticed that the flange 17 extends above the roller 10 throughout an arc ct su antially 120 on the upper side oi said roller and for some distance beyond the end of said are onthe side of the roller which not in contact-With the fixed dog 12.

d hat i: claim is:

1. lili'a circular knitting machine, a nee nder a needle dial a lug or dog upon inner surface of the needle cylinder an ca re anti-friction "Wheel carried by the dial, anda fabric shield or guard extending over that part of the periphery of said Wheel which is nearest the needle dual.

2. ln an anti-friction dog for rib knitting machines, a Wheel, a stud upon which said uheel .is mounted and means to hold the stud comprising'a structure having a concentric cell or pocket formed therein to receive said Wheel, and an opening into said pocket to expose a part only of the periphcry of the Wheel.

3. In an anti-friction dial positioning device for circular rib knitting machines, needle carriers, a lever, means to support said lever on one of said carriers, a recess in the end of said lever forming a flange at the end of said lever on that side approached by the forming fabric, an anti-friction wheel mounted to rotate Within said recess, and a cooperating dog toposition the fabric in contact with an exposed part of said wheel.

at. In a rib knitting machine, a cylinder, a dial, a lever mounted, on the dial, a stud on said lever having its axis substantially radial with respect to the axis of rotation of the machine, a wheel mounted to rotate about said stud, a fabric guard for said wheel and an abutment on the needlecylinder to support the fabric in contact with the periphery of said Wheel.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speclficatlon, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARRY S /Vi NGlJlflllUltS'l.

lVitn esses Casrnn C. Scmucmuu, WALTER Leanna. 

